Did Disney ever try to attract the senior citizen crowd?

[DodgerGirl]

I heard a rumor many moons ago that Disney had been trying to develop nursing homes and assisted living communities specially designed for senior citizens 55 and up and I would like to know what became of that deal? Because after seeing what they did with Celebration it would seem logical for Disney to begin developing senior communities and nursing homes because I think it would have been smart for Disney to develop a senior assisted living community to attract the senior citizen crowd

 

[LuvOrlando]

55 plus would be fun but based on how they are managing physical disabilities park level it would appear management has gone in another direction on how they view this demographic, the juice isn't worth the squeeze so to speak

 

[PollyannaMom]

I would definitely want to live in a Disney-themed nursing home when I'm old.

 

[FreeTime]

Asteria and Cotino, Disney’s Story Living which is under development, will have a dedicated 55+ community within the community. These are located in NC and CA.

 

[Nayan]

There's a lot of 55+ communities very close to Disney here in Florida so there would be no purpose in having a Disney specific one. I cannot see them operating an assisted living site.

 

[LAS2AMS]

55 plus would be fun but based on how they are managing physical disabilities park level it would appear management has gone in another direction on how they view this demographic, the juice isn't worth the squeeze so to speak

My mother is nearly 80, has a plethora of health issues, can barely walk and has a hard time getting out of attractions. Disney treats her like a queen. The fact that Disney granted DAS access to every morbidly obese, elderly, etc. is why we’re in this situation (everyone thinking they need DAS) to begin with.

 

[The Jackal]

My mother is nearly 80, has a plethora of health issues, can barely walk and has a hard time getting out of attractions. Disney treats her like a queen. The fact that Disney granted DAS access to every morbidly obese, elderly, etc. is why we’re in this situation (everyone thinking they need DAS) to begin with.

DAS usage skyrocketed when WDW got rid of the free fast pass and went to a paid system.

 

[LAS2AMS]

DAS usage skyrocketed when WDW got rid of the free fast pass and went to a paid system.

At the same time, TikTok made people aware of the program & that Disney would approve even the most minor disability. That are few other companies, if any, that have been more accommodating to the elderly & persons with disabilities Disney. But like the meme says, f around and find out. If you take advantage of something, it’s going to be monitored/ limited.

 

[Darklord77]

They already have developed a Disney nursing home. It was Epcot the second week of December.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My mother is nearly 80, has a plethora of health issues, can barely walk and has a hard time getting out of attractions. Disney treats her like a queen. The fact that Disney granted DAS access to every morbidly obese, elderly, etc. is why we’re in this situation (everyone thinking they need DAS) to begin with.

I had no idea that DAS was given to the elderly. I'm the same condition as your mother, but it never crossed my mind to consider DAS. One time I went to enter what I thought was the wheelchair access line for IASW, and the CM there said something about my DAS. At the time I just figured she was mistaken...

 

[Nayan]

They have really changed who gets DAS now. I suggest checking the DISabilities forum for the latest up-to-date information.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I had no idea that DAS was given to the elderly. I'm the same condition as your mother, but it never crossed my mind to consider DAS. One time I went to enter what I thought was the wheelchair access line for IASW, and the CM there said something about my DAS. At the time I just figured she was mistaken...

Disney was very liberal in granting DAS access. Around the same time free fast pass was discontinued, the prevalence of DAS exploded on social media and DAS access surged, causing Disney to tighten criteria to get access. Of course, the social media world still educates people on how to game the system…

 

[MICKIMINI]

Disney was in the process (not sure how far they got) in developing a town west (?) of MCO before covid. If I recall, it was a mixed use town similar to Celebration where employees being moved from CA to FL could move. There was also an entire area reserved for 55+. Sorry, I do not recall the name. DH and I were watching it but I think the whole thing got called off. We ended up building new in the lakes region of NH. There is no way we would have gotten even half the house.

Edit: Lake Nona was the name

 

[OKW Lover]

Disney abandoned that development due to some political issues in the state.

 

[Scalemaster34]

Disney was in the process (not sure how far they got) in developing a town west (?) of MCO before covid. If I recall, it was a mixed use town similar to Celebration where employees being moved from CA to FL could move. There was also an entire area reserved for 55+. Sorry, I do not recall the name. DH and I were watching it but I think the whole thing got called off. We ended up building new in the lakes region of NH. There is no way we would have gotten even half the house.

Edit: Lake Nona was the name

Disney only purchased a 60 acre plot in the Lake Nona area - Celebration was nearly 4,900 acres. Most reports were it was going to be more of a large office campus than anything else. Never really saw any mention of it containing apartments or condos - but three are several nearby in Lake Nona. (the purchase did have requirements for construction which Disney has missed, so I assume it went back to the Developer at this point)

As for the OPs question.... per the Internet, Disney has two 55+ neighborhoods in planning under their https://www.storylivingbydisney.com/ But these are not assisted living or nursing homes... just communities with a Disney focus (and price tag). The first called Cotino is in Rancho Mirage, California is well underway, with possible a second community in the future to be in a North Carolina location.

I can't see Disney wanting to be anywhere near the nursing home business...

 

[Former DVC Owner]

Thank you for being a friend
Travel down the road and back again
Your heart is true you’re a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party
invited everyone you knew
You would see the biggest gift would from me
And the card attached would say “thank you for being a friend”

 

[irlandaise]

Thank you for being a friend
Travel down the road and back again
Your heart is true you’re a pal and a confidant

And if you threw a party
invited everyone you knew
You would see the biggest gift would from me
And the card attached would say “thank you for being a friend”

I recently read a book called Golden Years: How Americans Invented and Reinvented Old Age, and the author discussed several episodes of "The Golden Girls" that demonstrated the challenges faced by older Americans. Well worth the read.

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/james-chappel/golden-years/9781541619524/

 

[AnnaS]

I was thinking of this........is it still on

https://www.storylivingbydisney.com/asteria/

 

[hardcorestitch]

I was thinking of this........is it still on

https://www.storylivingbydisney.com/asteria/

I’m sure ABC11 will be spamming stories about this community…

 

[irlandaise]

I was thinking of this........is it still on

https://www.storylivingbydisney.com/asteria/

Yes, it's still on. It's one of the two communities that @Scalemaster34 mentioned yesterday in the posting above. As the Disney website says, "this Storyliving by Disney community is expected to begin taking shape in 2027." Home sales are already underway at Cotino in California.